Greetings from Charlotte,
Mr. Dibar Apartian will be sending out the Update for the next three weeks since I will be on an extended trip to New Zealand and Australia and then to the LYC in Michigan. While I am away, please take all CAD matters to Mr. Apartian and Deborah Lincoln-Strange. They will be in contact with me throughout this trip. Your prayers on my behalf would be greatly appreciated.
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Friz arrive at Headquarters today to continue in the Pastoral Training Program. Dan has already been working with Mr. John Ogwyn, gaining valuable experience in "hands-on" ministerial service. The Friz's will live here until after the Feast before being sent back out to serve full-time in the field.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES
FESTIVAL OFFICE
Kauai, Hawaii
All those who have applied to attend the Feast at Kauai, HI, have been approved. We still have space for an additional one hundred and fifty people. Anyone who would like to attend in Hawaii this year should submit his or her application right away. All those who have applied may make their housing and travel arrangements. Discounts rates are available by calling Linda Owens at 1-800-882-9007.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
More people have indicated their desire to attend Myrtle Beach than the hall seating can accommodate, and it is too late in the season to find another facility. Members in the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Southern Georgia who indicated their intention to travel to South Carolina for the feast, but can as easily go to Panama City or some other LCG Feast site, should do so. The Festival Office has already made arrangements for a larger meeting space in Myrtle Beach for the 2004 Feast of Tabernacles. For those who can switch sites, your help in this situation will make a better Feast for all concerned. Thank you for your cooperation.
FESTIVAL ASSISTANCE
We are starting to receive a trickle of Festival Assistance forms from those who will need assistance to attend the Feast of Tabernacles this year. Please announce at services this Sabbath that these forms need to be properly filled out and signed by the Church Pastor and sent to us ahead of the deadline of August 22, 2003, if possible—otherwise, there will be a last minute crush that will be very difficult to handle.
SERMONS AVAILABLE ON DVD
We are currently attempting to expand the number of DVDs available to replace the VHS video tapes that are being sent to the congregations and video groups. The cost to ship DVDs is much less than video tapes and blank DVDs cost less as well. This will be a great savings to the Work. Our eventual goal is to virtually eliminate video tape altogether and have DVD as our main media format for the sermon videos. The picture quality of DVD is much better than VHS tape and the DVDs are not subject to the damage that can be caused by demagnetization during shipping. Also, DVDs do not wear out and they take up very little space for storage. We understand that if a congregation or video group does not already have a DVD player available, one would need to be purchased. DVD players can be found in popular department stores for about $60 to $70. We will only be able to supply DVDs in the NTSC format. If your video group or congregation is currently receiving videos in the PAL format, a Multi-System DVD player will need to be purchased. These players cost considerably more at around $160 to $300.
Sermon DVDs will be available on a first come/first served basis at this time. In order for the Work to transition toward this economical and high quality media format, we need your help and input. Please contact Church Administration to begin receiving DVD sermons, by calling 704-844-1960 ext. 220 or by writing to [email protected].
INTERNATIONAL
From Mr. Adrian Kaefer:
This is the statistical report of the German web site and literature activities for the past six months, January 1st through June 30th, 2003. The web site www.weltvonmorgen.org had:
- 8147 identified visitors in the past 6 months (+ 72.2% from last six months 2002), (As visitors are counted only those who look at least at one page of the web site; 56.5% of all registered visitors).
- 2366 booklet downloads in the past 6 months (+ 48.9% from last six months 2002).
- 6409 article downloads in the past 6 months (+ 65.7% from last six months 2002).
- 718 bible study course downloads (lessons 1-6) in the past 6 months (+ 43.0% from last six months 2002).
Additionally, printed publications were sent out by mail:
- 138 booklets in the past 6 months (+ 58.6% from last six months 2002).
- 229 articles in the past 6 months (+ 78.9% from last six months 2002).
- 34 copies of bible study course lessons in the past 6 months (+ 70.0% from last six months 2002).
Almost all figures have surpassed the figures for the entire year of 2002. In total, since inception in 2000 (3 years ago), over 20,000 publications were downloaded and over 1000 printed publications mailed to people upon request. About 40% of these distributions are from this year alone.
COMMENTS
The book of Esther contains some very instructive and fascinating lessons that apply in our Christian lives today. In Chapter 4, we find Queen Esther facing a monumental crisis both for herself and the Jews scattered throughout the provinces of the Kingdom of King Ahasuerus. Notice the most important thing she did about this problem. "Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:15-16).
She called for a fast, so they could draw close to God and beseech Him for His intervention and deliverance. As the remainder of this book clearly shows that is exactly what happened for her and all of her people.
As you know, Mr. Roderick C. Meredith has called for a Church-wide fast this coming Sabbath, July 12th. Obviously there are differences between this fast and the one Esther called. But consider the principle involved. There was a need, and Esther and those loyal to her took the matter one step further than usual. They fasted to draw closer to God. This strengthened their prayers and supplications to Him in the face of a real need.
I hope we can learn from this example occurring in Esther's day. If we will follow Mr. Meredith's urgent exhortations about this upcoming fast, humble ourselves before God and seek His help and forgiveness in the face of a real need, I believe He will hear and bless His Work in a special way. Then we can then help others in a special way, as we press forward in fulfilling our calling and commission from our Creator.
Have a profitable and strengthening Sabbath.
Charles E. Bryce